P&P: Behind the Scenes – Wickham Makes a Plan

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A look inside Wickham’s scheming mind on the day he meets Elizabeth in Meryton for the first time.


November 20, 1811

pride_wickhamWickham appreciatively eyed the assets Miss Lydia Bennet purposely flaunted in front of him. If the flirtatious and forward Miss Lydia was an example of the pleasures Meryton had to offer, perhaps he would enjoy his time in this godforsaken market town more than he had anticipated.

His sole reason for joining the militia had been to hide from angry creditors in London, but he might as well find some amusement while he was in uniform. And here he was, only an hour in town, and already four pretty girls were hanging on his every word. Well, perhaps the eldest Miss Bennet could not be described that way. She was a true beauty, one he would definitely not mind bedding, but she was also reticent and proper. It would not be worth the effort it would require to seduce her. Miss Elizabeth was pretty enough, but she had an clever, impertinent wit, and Wickham preferred his women very young and foolish. The other sister, whose name he had already forgotten, was a bit drab, but Miss Lydia showed great promise – just out of the schoolroom by all appearances, completely lacking in wit, propriety and restraint. Just the way he liked them. Too bad his new friend Denny was already scowling at him. He must have already set his cap for Miss Lydia, but why should Denny’s sentiments stand in the way of his pleasures?

He gave Denny a practiced smile. He still needed him to make introductions to the other officers. It would be much easier to fleece them at the card table if they saw him as Denny’s dear friend. Maybe this time he would win for once.

Miss Elizabeth asked, “Mr. Wickham, is this your first visit to Hertfordshire?”

He made a slight bow. “I have passed through it before, while travelling from my home in Derbyshire to London.” Was that a slight frown that passed over her face when he mentioned Derbyshire? He hurried to add, “Of course, I have lived in London for some years now.” That seemed to please her. How curious! What could she dislike about Derbyshire?

Two gentlemen whose coats showed the fine fit only the best London tailors could achieve approached on horseback. Wickham observed them with a sidelong glance; he always liked to know where the deep pockets were, just waiting to be fleeced. But wait – no, it could not possibly be! But it was.

lacock_movies_203_203x152Of all the devilish luck! Why did Darcy have to appear here of all places? Perhaps joining the militia in Meryton had not been not such a good idea after all.

At least Darcy had not seen him yet. His attention seemed to be fixed on Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and he was watching her with an expression Wickham had never seen him wear before, a look of mingled longing and desire. His former friend shifted in the saddle as if he could hardly bear to stay astride. 

Could it be? Had the arrogant Fitzwilliam Darcy fallen for the charms of a country miss? If so, Miss Elizabeth seemed oblivious of important conquest she had made. Her eyes were on Darcy’s friend who was inquiring about her sister’s health.

Darcy could not possibly be thinking of marrying the chit, could he? He would never consider anything but fortune and breeding in his wife, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet could not hold a candle to Miss Anne de Bourgh in those regards. Did he want to make her his mistress? That was even more difficult to believe; it was beneath Darcy’s moralistic dignity to conceive of seducing a gentleman’s daughter. So what did he want?

Just then Darcy tore his eyes away from Miss Elizabeth, and Wickham felt that piercing stare burning into his face. Now Darcy’s expression was one of distaste, perhaps remembering the sight of his precious sister in Wickham’s arms. Oh, how he hoped that memory haunted him. Damn him for interfering! Without Darcy, Wickham would now be in possession of Georgiana’s thirty thousand pounds, rather than hiding in this insipid town from debt collectors.

Darcy, white-faced, made the most perfunctory nod possible toward Wickham, who shifted from one foot to the other. Would his old friend expose him? But of course he would not dare, not when he knew Wickham had the power to ruin his sister with a word. What a pleasant thought! There was nothing Wickham liked better than making Darcy squirm.

With just a hint of a mocking smile, Wickham touched his hat, a salutation which Darcy barely deigned to return. After Darcy’s friend asked a last question of the eldest Miss Bennet, the two gentlemen rode off, but not before Darcy subjected Wickham to his best cold stare.

So, Darcy was in Meryton, and at least half in love with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Wickham’s smile grew. How could he resist the opportunity to charm a lady Darcy so admired, and perhaps plant a little poison about Darcy in her ear? Oh, yes. It would be a great pleasure. Miss Elizabeth might not the kind of young lady he preferred, but he was willing to overlook her cleverness if it gave him the chance to put a spoke in Darcy’s wheel.

Yes, it would be most satisfactory to make Miss Elizabeth fall in love with him instead of Darcy. With a warm smile, he turned to her and said in his most charming manner, “I hope you often brighten our day by visiting Meryton, Miss Elizabeth.”

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16 comments

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    • Glynis on November 3, 2015 at 12:43 am
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    What an insufferable man! I think you have captured his thoughts perfectly. Poor Darcy and poor Elizabeth. Wickham may have left her alone otherwise although I think you are right that he would have seduced Lydia anyway. Thanks for this scene Abigail.

    1. Thanks! Yes, Wickham only looks out for himself, doesn’t he?

    • Michelle Hall on November 3, 2015 at 4:36 am
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    I love your stories Abigail, you are such a good story teller. Lovely way to start my morning even if it was about the scheming Mr. Whickham. Also like the photographs from the 1995 P & P – best ever.

    1. Thanks! I was mentally writing this scene in June when I was in Lacock on the spot where the scene was filmed, so this scene is very much 1995 P&P in my head.

    • Madenna on November 3, 2015 at 5:44 am
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    He is always out for himself! My favorite part is that those who knew him could see Darcy’s attraction to Miss Elizabeth, even though she could not. Thank you for the scene.

    1. I figure Wickham would be an expert at picking up Darcy’s weak spots!

    • Deborah on November 3, 2015 at 7:02 am
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    oooohhhh. What a creep. Definitely looking for the best way to hurt Darcy and here he’s found it. I loved getting into his head and seeing the thought process. Well, he is an opportunist. Love (hate) to see how he’s using Denny. It just shows how conniving he is. Thank you for this wonderful post.

    1. Opportunist is precisely how I see Wickham. Not scheming and setting up plans in advance, but seizing the opportunities as they happen. I pity Darcy for having an enemy like him who is never satisfied!

  1. Wickham, that cad!! He had no liking for Elizabeth’s impertinent and clever personality (I loved how he admits even to himself that he prefers his women young and stupid)…until Darcy unwittingly shows his preference for the irrepressible Miss Elizabeth, that is. 🙂

    Brilliant (but annoying–’cause Wickham is soooooo annoyingly self-centered!) glimpse into the mind of a gentleman-wanna-be, ready to fool and fleece anyone he can to allow himself to act as if he were a gentleman of fortune.

    Wonderful vignette, Abigail!! 🙂

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Thanks, Susanne! It was fun trying to get into his head – Wickham is so different from the point-of-view characters I usually write.

    • Julia M Traver on November 3, 2015 at 3:13 pm
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    Wickham, that spot of oily, sticky, stinking sludge, this is a wonderful synopsis of his vileness. I will no longer defame small creatures to describe such individuals (poor toads and snakes) because they are underneath all creatures as they are truly worthless.

    1. Indeed, toads and snakes do not deserve such a comparison! I like your description. 🙂

    • Anji on November 3, 2015 at 4:03 pm
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    I wad only 11 when I first read P&P, so this sort of thing never occurred to me then. When I was quite a bit older and re-reading it, not for the first time, the penny suddenly dropped as to why Wickham would divulge the “truth” about Darcy to Elizabeth on only their second meeting. It was very similar to what you’ve described here, Abigail. Of course, it has to be taken in connection with Darcy’s letter later on, where we find out the real truth. Then it all becomes clear at last!

    Thanks so much for showing us an insight into the mind of the opportunist that Wickham is. One minute fancying a tumble with the unguarded and totally lacking in propriety girl Lydia is, the next picking up on Darcy’s attraction to Elizabeth and grabbing the chance for another attempt at revenge.

    1. It took me a long time to notice it, too. Jane Austen gives a very specific description of how their meeting came about, and I’ve learned that whenever JA is specific, there’s a reason. Here’s what she says: “But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger’s air, all wondered who he could be, and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretence of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say, had accepted a commission in their corps.” If you work this through with chess pieces like I did, you discover that she has carefully set it up so that as Darcy and Bingley are riding from the direction of Netherfield to Longbourn, Wickham would be facing Darcy.

      It sheds a different light on why he chose to elope with Lydia – perhaps after hearing Elizabeth was gone to Derbyshire?

    • Anji on November 3, 2015 at 6:07 pm
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    The more you lhink about it and look into it, the more devious Wickham becomes. Lydia will certainly have had letters from home mentioning that Elizabeth had gone to Derbyshire. Mention may have been made of Mrs Gardiner’s wish to visit her childhood home of Lambton and Lydia would probably have prattled on to W. about it, knowing that he and E. had been friendly at one point.

    I read a book years ago where a character was described as needing a tall ladder and a high top hat to reach the underbelly of a snake slithering along through the slime. That could easily be used to describe Wickham, couldn’t it?

    • Sheila L. M. on November 5, 2015 at 11:26 am
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    Yes, Wickhead is exactly as you described him, Abigail, an opportunist. And he has perfected the art of perception in reading expressions. That is something he needs in manipulating his circumstances, whether it be the cards or the ladies or the shopkeeper. In today’s age he could have been such a good politician, knowing to whom, when and which lies!

    Well played. Thank you for this scenario.

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